Gearless transmission mechanism



L. C. CATTOI.

GEARLESS TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, I921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented J uIy 4, 1922.

Z 0 Q 0 W L; C. CATTOI.

GEARLESYS TRANSMISSION MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, I92I.

1,421,908. Patented July 4, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- -L. C. CATTOI.

GEARLESJS TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION F-ILED FEB.24,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mg i i H M/v A M attorney L. C. CATTOI.

GEARLESS TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, I921.

Patented July 4,1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I i \k i k 9 .II 3 .16

LOUIS C. CATTOI, 0F H'D'RLEY, WISCONSIN. v

GEARLESS TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent- Patented .iui a, 11922.

Application filed February 24, 1921. Serial No. 447,455.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS C. CATTOI, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hurley, in the county of Iron and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gearless Transmis. sionMechanism, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to transmission means of the gearless type, thegeneral object of the invention being to provide means for securing'avariable speedwithout the use of gears or clutches and by a-singlemovement of an operating lever.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 'vide means for transmittingthe power through an endless belt with means for increasing ordecreasing the diameter of the belt engaging parts so; as to secure thevariable speed.\

A still further object of'the invention is to provide means wherebyeither achain drive or a belt drive can be used by making slight changesin the transmission means.

. This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

, In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, andin which v a Figure1 is aplan-view of they invention.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section. I IFigure 4 isa cross sectional view on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar uiew on line 5',5 of

I Figure 1.-

i the drive shaft 2 Each of these shafts is provided with end F igure'6is a detail view of the cones'in juxtaposition. 1

gigure '7 isa detail viewof the shifting yoe.

' Figure 8'is 'a plan view of a modified form.

Figure 9 is a detail view ofithe cones.

In these views 1 indicates the supporting casing of the device in whichis journaled and the 'drivenshaft 3.

thrustmeans 4 which preferably consist of a cap 5 secured to theexterior of the casing and carrying a spherical member 6 which engagesthe end of the shaft. A thrust bear- 7 is locatedin the cap andsurrounds mg the shaft and acts to prevent longitudinal movement of theshaft away from the member 6- I Each shaft has keyed thereto a pair ofcones 8 which are arranged to have sliding movement on the shaft andwhich are reversely, arranged so that their small ends contact. Eachcone is provided with a number of longitudinally extending slots 9spaced apart 'to leave the portions 10 and these portions 10 of one coneare adapted to engage with theslots 9 of the other cone so that when thecones are forced inwardly they will telescope and thus the diameter ofthe belt'receiving part will be increased. The belt or endless chain isshown at l]. and when a belt drive is used the surfaces of the cones areplain, as shown in the modified form of the device, but when a silentchain drive is used teeth-12 are formed in.

drive is increased by forcing the cones together the number of teethwill also be increased to increase the frictionalengagement between thecones and chain.

The means for expanding and contracting the cones consists of anH-shaped member 13 arranged in thecasing and having the inner. faces of itsparallel "parts beveled, as at 14, these beveled faces engaging thrustblocks 15 at the wide ends of the cones with the outer faces of themember engaging the inner jwalls .of the casing. Thus when said member13 isshifted towards one end of the casing the beveled facesthereonengaging the thrust blocks will thrust the cones to- 'wards eachother and thus increase the diameter of the belt engaging parts of thecones. As this is taking place the opposite pair of cones will bepermitted to expand under the pressure exerted by the belt.

' Thus it will be seen that the diameters of the belt engaging portionscan be increased or diminished to varying extents so as to drive thedrivenshaft at the speed deslred.

The means for shifting the H-shaped member consists of a lever 16pivoted intermediate its ends to the casing and engaging a projection 17on the ll-shaped member. Thus by rocking the leverupon its pivot themember 13 is shifted from one side of the casing to the other asdesired.

My improved transmission gives a variable speed without the shifting ofgears or engagement of clutches and by a single movement of theoperating lever. The different speeds are secured by the expanding a andcontracting ofthe cones thus changing the diameter of the belt engagingportions of the cones.

As shown the teeth on the surfaces of the cones are cut parallel as ..ona straight spur gear. As the cones are contracted a greaterv I number'ofteeth are brought into engage- 20 ment "with the belt. s

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of my invention Will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, providedthat such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims. 7

. 1,4.21 ,eos.

ceivingtapered portions of the companion cone, an H-shaped memberslidably mounted in the casing and having the inner faces of itsparallel members beveled to engage the broad ends of the cones and apivoted lever connected with said sliding member for moving the same.

2. A deviceof the class d escribed compris ing a casing, a pair ofshaftsjournaled therein, thrust bearings for preventing longitudinal movementof the shafts, a pair of telescopic cones on each shaft, an endless beltengaging said cones, a thrust block on the broad end of each cone, asliding member.

located in the casing and having beveled faces. engaging the thrustblock s, means for. shifting said member to contract and expand saidcones, and longitudinally extending teeth on the cones.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

Louis 0. cATToi.

